Psychedelics have been used for religious, spiritual, and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Recently, there has been a growing interest in their potential to treat mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. Psychedelic treatment access is still limited in most countries due to regulations, however, research studies and clinical work have already shown promising results.

What are psychedelics?

Psychedelics are a group of substances that alter perception, thoughts, and feelings. They include LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin (found in certain types of mushrooms), DMT (dimethyltryptamine), and mescaline (found in peyote cactus). Psychedelics work by binding to serotonin, glutamate, or other neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, which affect mood, perception, and cognition.

What mental health conditions have been shown to improve with psychedelic treatment?

Psychedelics can have a profound and long-lasting impact on mental health conditions, particularly depression, anxiety, and addiction. Studies have shown that psychedelics can increase feelings of well-being, reduce anxiety and depression, and increase social connectedness. Each type of psychedelic has a different quality to the experience and outcomes, but they all drive an altered consciousness described as “mind-manifesting” (the very meaning of the word “psychedelic).

Depression studies

Studies have found that a single dose of psilocybin can have a lasting effect on depression. In a 2016 study, researchers at Imperial College London found that two doses of psilocybin with psychological support reduced depression symptoms in 67% of participants. The effects lasted up to six months after the treatment.¹

As far back as 2000, a Yale research group study led by Dr. John Krystal demonstrated that a single dose of ketamine produced rapid and significant antidepressant effects within 72 hours of the infusion. The study concluded that ketamine may be a promising treatment option for individuals with major depressive disorder who do not respond to traditional antidepressant medications.²

A 2020 study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that intranasal esketamine, a derivative of ketamine, was effective in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Patients showed improvement in depression especially in the groups receiving the moderate and higher doses of esketamine. The study concluded that esketamine may be a safe and effective treatment option for individuals with treatment-resistant depression.³

There have since been many other studies showing ketamine’s positive impact on depression symptoms.

Anxiety studies

Cancer patients often experience significant symptoms of depression and anxiety. Previous studies have suggested that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, may help reduce these symptoms. In a recent study, 51 cancer patients with symptoms of depression and anxiety were given either a very low (placebo-like) dose or a high dose of psilocybin in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial. The group receiving the high dose of psilocybin showed significant decreases in depression and anxiety, along with improvements in quality of life, life meaning, and optimism. These positive effects were sustained 6 months later, with about 80% of participants showing continued improvement. Participants attributed their positive experiences to the high-dose psilocybin treatment, with over 80% reporting increased well-being and life satisfaction. The study suggests that psilocybin may be a promising treatment for depression and anxiety in cancer patients.⁴

Addiction studies

Psychedelics have also shown promise in treating addiction. One study investigated the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for the treatment of alcohol dependence. Results showed participants who received psilocybin showed significant increase in abstinence from alcohol, and these gains were maintained for 36 weeks. The positive effects of psilocybin were stronger in participants who experienced more intense effects during the first session. There were no serious side effects reported. The study concluded that psilocybin-assisted therapy may be a promising new treatment option for individuals with alcohol dependence.⁵

Another recent study examined the effects of ayahuasca, a plant-based psychedelic prepared as a brewed drink, in treating problematic substance use and stress in a rural First Nations community in Canada. The study involved four days of group counseling combined with two expert-led ayahuasca ceremonies. Participants were assessed before treatment and six months later on several psychological and behavioral factors related to substance use. Results showed significant improvements in hopefulness, empowerment, mindfulness, and quality of life, and a decline in self-reported alcohol, tobacco, and cocaine use. All study participants reported positive and lasting changes after the retreats. The study concluded that ayahuasca-assisted therapy may also be a promising treatment option for individuals with addiction to cocaine and other substances.⁶

So, can psychedelics help mental health conditions?

Psychedelics have definitely shown promise in treating mental health conditions, but there are risks and precautions to be considered. Psychedelics can cause intense and sometimes overwhelming experiences, which can be difficult to manage without proper support. Additionally, psychedelics can interact with other medications and can be dangerous for individuals with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure.

Therefore, it is important that psychedelics are only used in a controlled and supervised setting, such as a clinical trial or with the guidance of a trained practitioner. This ensures that the experience is safe and supportive, and that any potential risks are minimized.

As research in this area continues to expand, it is likely that psychedelics will play an increasingly important role in mental health treatment.

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References:

1. Carhart-Harris, R.L., Bolstridge, M., Rucker, J., Day, C.M., Erritzoe, D., Kaelen, M., Bloomfield, M., Rickard, J.A., Forbes, B., Feilding, A., Taylor, D., Pilling, S., Curran, V.H., Nutt, D.J. (2016). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. Lancet Psychiatry. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27210031/
2. Berman, R. M., Cappiello, A., Anand, A., Oren, D. A., Heninger, G. R., Charney, D. S., & Krystal, J. H. (2000). Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients. Biological psychiatry. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10686270/
3. Daly, E.J., Singh, J.B., Fedgchin, M., Cooper, K., Lim, P., Shelton, R.C., Thase, M.E., Winokur, A., Van Nueten, L., Manji, H., Drevets, W.C.(2018). Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine Adjunctive to Oral Antidepressant Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29282469/
4. Griffiths, R.R., Johnson, M.W., Carducci, M.A., Umbricht, A., Richards, W.A., Richards, B.D., Cosimano, M.P., Klinedinst, M.A. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27909165/
5. Bogenschutz, M.P., Forcehimes, A.A., Pommy, J.A., Wilcox, C.E., Barbosa, P.C., Strassman, R.J. (2015). Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: a proof-of-concept study. Journal of Psychopharmacology. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25586396/
6. Thomas, G., Lucas, P., Capler, N.R., Tupper, K.W., Martin G. (2013). Ayahuasca-assisted therapy for addiction: results from a preliminary observational study in Canada. Current Drug Abuse Reviews. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23627784/

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